Picker check



April 30, 1946. NADEAU 2,399,562

PIGKER CHECK Filed May 10, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I00 34 5g /0 '8 Y 31 in 1/0 for April 30, 1946. NADEAU 2,399,562

' PICKER CHECK I Filed May 10, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 again lplzegeliiad'eaw Patented Apr. 30, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- PICKER CHECK l li g N dea ac tone, as Application May 10, 1944, Serial No. 534,882 4 Claims. (01. 139-4 4) My invention relates to improvements in picker checks. Picker checks are employed in addition to shuttle binders for arresting the movement of the shuttle asit comes into the shuttle box, which is particularly necessary and desirable on the magazine side of a loom.

So far as I am aware, in the prior art most picker checks have operated against the picker stick by direct contact therewith and the shock has been absorbed directly by the picker check itself which has caused substantial wear both in the picker check and on the picker stick. For this purpose many picker checks have been constructed of resilient material such as leather so that they may yield for this purpose. Such picker checks have also been employed to be contacted by the picker but so far as I am aware they have been hit head on by the picker to absorb the shock by their own inherent construction.

In my invention I employ a preferably resilient finger adapted to be mounted on the lay in the path of the picker but instead of being mounted vertically as prior types of picker checks have been, said finger is normally tilted forwardly at a substantial angle towards -the approachin picker and I provide spring means urging said finger inwardly and resisting the pivotal outward movement of said finger so that said picker may strike said finger with a glancing blow only, namely, without the full impact of the picker against the picker check as in former types and so that the picker as it moves forward will slide along the surface of the pivoting finger with a supplemental braking action as it moves said finger outwardly a substantial distance, usually substantially to the vertical.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to so mount the shock absorbing member of the picker check, namely the finger, tilted inwardly at a substantial angle so that the picker will only strike it a glancing blow thereby causing much less wear and shock on the picker and picker check and so that as the picker moves along the surface of the pivoting finger it will provide a braking action to slow down the forward movement of the picker and connected shuttle.

It is essential that the shuttle stop in the same place with no rebound on the magazine side of the loom so that the bobbins may be replaced in the shuttle from the magazine. An object of my invention, therefore, is to insure that the shuttle will stop at all times in the same place and eliminate the rebound thereof due to the arresting effect of the glancing blow on the picker check finger and the afore described friction of the picker on the'picker check finger to function a brake to arrest the movement of the shuttle.

A further object of my invention is to provide a structure wherein the wear on the parts, such as on the picker stick, the hole in the picker through which the picker stick projects, and the picker check itself, does not affect the point of stoppage of the shuttle as the wear takes place only on the outer edge of the picker and the finger, which wear does not affect the point of stoppage of the shuttle. In former types of pick er checks, wear on the picker and the picker stick decreased the amount of check the picker check could give the shuttle, and as against former type of picker checks danger of bad dawfs or insertions of bobbins in the shuttle, broken shuttles, broken bobbins, and smashes are substantially eliminated as the wear on the parts positively does not affect the amount of check given to the shuttle.

A further object of my invention is to ease the blow of the picker and picker stick and lessen the need of a tight shuttle binder also decreasing the wear on any leather used in the binder or as forinerly used in the picker check.

A further object of my invention is to elimi nate the use of any leather in the picker check which is apt to become still or soft on changes in temperature or wear, and consequent binding of the shuttle or other parts.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings which illustrate a picker check con-- structed in accordance with my invention and its use on a loom.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a diagrammatic rear elevation of the magazine end of the lay of a loom and adjacent magazine with my invention attached, illustrating the parts in the position they assume as the shuttle initially strikes the picker and prior to any outward tilting movement of the picker check finger.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the ame parts with said parts in the position shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic rear elevation of the same parts of the magazine and lay with my invention attached, as shown in Fig. 1 as the shuttle comes to rest position in the shuttle box with the picker check finger pivoted outwardly to substantially vertical position.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the same parts with said parts in the position shown Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of a type of pic r check I may employ illustrating the means for attaching it to the lower surface of the lay and with th finger thereof in the position it assumes in Fig. 1 prior to being struck by the picker.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the embodiment of picker check shown in Fig. 5.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, I generally indicates a picker check constructed in accordance with my invention. In order that my invention may be more clearly understood I have shown in Figs. 1-4 diagrammatically the magazine end 12 of the lay I5 of a loom. Said lay includes the usual surface I4 over which the shuttle I6 travels. I have shown a reversible picker I8 suitably mounted on the picker rod 20 mounted as usual on the rear surface of the lay with the picker projecting within the shuttle box 22 through the usual slot and terminating in the stop projection 24 having the inner end surface 26 adapted to be abutted by the shuttle I6 and the outer end surface 28 adapted to contact the shuttle box buffer 36. The picker rod 26 is mounted at the usual spaced distance 32 in rear of the lay to receive the hole 34 in the rear end of the picker I8 for slidable movement on said rod, said space 32 being provided so that the picker stick 36 extending upwardly through the usual hole 38 in the picker may pivot inwardly and outwardly as usual within said space 32. The shuttle I6 slides over the lay as usual and is provided with the usual pointed end 42 for abutting the picker surface 26 and is provided with the enlarged vertical slot 44 having a spring clip means 46 near the inner end thereof for grasping the usual threads or rings 48 on the bobbin base 58, the

bobbin shaft 52 projecting outwardly within said hole 44 so that the thread 54 thereof may project upwardly through the guide eye 56 as usual. The front wall of the shuttle box 22 is provided with the usual shuttle binder or shuttle check 25. I have shown in the drawings a conventional form of binder comprising the bar 25 extending substantially the length of the shuttle box pivotally mounted on the stud 21 near the outer end thereof and with its forward movement limited and hence its gripping action controlled by the usual stop stud 28 although it is obvious that any suitable type of shuttle binder or check may be employed.

My improved picker check comprises a finger 58 adapted to be mounted on the lay I5 to pivot outwardly exterior of the picker stick 36 and picker I8 in the space 32 in the path of the picker exterior of said Dicker stick intermediate of the picker rod 20 and shuttle box 22, said finger 58 normally tilting inwardly at the substantial angle towards the approaching picker I8, the picker I3 being provided with a fiat surface 62 in said space 32 adapted to abut the inner edge 55 of said finger 58. The magazine 64 is rigidly mounted on the loom immediately above the area of rest of the shuttle I6 in the shuttle box 22 so that when desired the bobbin 66 may be displaced and replaced by downward movement of the magazine arm 68 to force a full bobbin downwardly through the shuttle until the arms 46 grip the bobbin rings 48 thereof to hold it in position within the shuttle I6 and forcing an empty bobbin 66 downwardly through the slot 44 in said shuttle I6. In order that the spring clip means 46 in the shuttle may be at all times accurately aligned with the portion of the magazine 64 feeding the bobbin bases 50, it is necessary that the shuttle I6 come to rest in the same position at all times and as will be apparent, my invention insures this.

I also provide spring means 10 urging said finger 58 inwardly and resisting the pivotal outward movement of said finger 58 to permit the surface 62 of the picker I8 to strike said finger 56 with a glancing blow and not head on as in former types and to slide along the surface of said pivoting finger with a braking action substantially from the point 0: shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the point 11 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 moving said finger outwardly a substantial distance until the picker portion 24 abuts the shuttle box buffer 30 and the shuttle is retained in gripped position in the shuttle box 22 by the shuttle binder 25. With this construction, rebound of the shuttle l6 within the shuttle box 22 is prevented, for due to the fact that as the finger 58 is only struck a glancing blow it only receives a fraction of the shock of former types of shuttle checks, and a braking action is provided as the picker surface 62 moves downwardly from the point a: to the point 1 along the inner edge 55 of said finger 58, the force of the shuttle being so lessened that it may be readily retained in position by the shuttle binder 25. It is also obvious that with my improved construction the only wear takes place on the outer edge 62 of the picker end along the surface ar-y of said finger 58 where it cannot affect the amount of check given the shuttle to cause the shuttle I6 to always stop in the same position, always properly aligned for the successive replacement of bobbins 66 from the magazine 64 to within the shuttle I6. In the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the finger 58 has reached a substantially vertical position as the outer surface 28 of the picker projection 24 strikes the shuttle box buffer 36 but thereafter it may pivot outwardly independently of further movement of the picker a slightly greater amount to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3. It is apparent however that it will rebound with such light force from the position shown in dotted lines to that shown in full lines that the binder will maintain the shuttle in said position properly aligned for replacement. It is apparent that with this construction no wear takes place on any part of the picker check, picker or picker stick which might affect the amount of check given the shuttle. It is immaterial how many degrees the finger 58 is tilted outwardly so long as it is tilted sufliciently to provide the desired amount of check. In the embodiment shown, this amount of tilt from the position the picker assumes when it strikes the shuttle box buiTer 30 is shown as substantially 20 degrees which I have found satisfactory for most purposes although a tilt somewhat less may be sufficient and a substantially greater tilt will provide a longer braking and hence checking action. While I have shown the finger 58 as being tilted to a substantially vertical position as the picker surface 28 strikes the buffer 30, this exact position however is immaterial so long as the finger 58 pivots outwardly a suificient amount to provide the braking action and is initially tilted forwardly so much that the picker surface strike it only a glancing blow instead of a head on blow.

My improved finger 58 is preferably constructed of wood, fibre, plastic or other fibrous material.

My improved finger 58 and operating spring means 16 may be attached to the lay in any suitable manner. I have shown, however, in

Figs. and 6 a suitable support I have provided for mounting the finger 58 and its actuating spring 10 on the lay so that it may initially tilt at the desired angle in the space 32 in the path of the approaching icker and pivot outwardly the desired amount. For this purpose I have provided a supporting bracket 12 having a flat plate portion 14 having bolt holes 16 therein for receiving the bolts 80 for mounting said plate M on the lower surface 18 of the lay [5 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 by means of the bolts 80. Said bracket has a portion 82 projecting downwardly therefrom having a stop 84 projecting rearwardly from the outer end thereof and a hole 86 for mounting a stud axle 88 in said arm which may be suitably secured thereto by means of a rivet 98 or in any other suitable manner. The finger 58 is provided with a collar portion 92 for the pivotal mounting thereof on the rear end of said stud axle 88 which collar is provided with a stop projection 94 substantially diametrically opposite said finger 58 for limiting the inward pivotal movement of said finger 58 as said stop projection 94 abuts said back stop 84. The spring Ill preferably comprises a helical coil spring surrounding said stud axle 88 in rear of said collar 92. The front end of said spring is provided with an axially projecting end 96 adapted to be anchored within a suitable hole 98 in the collar 92 of said tension finger 58.

As stated, I also preferably provide means to adjust the tension of the spring means 10 against said finger 58. In the preferred embodiment, said means comprises a collar I80 circumferentially adjustable on the end I82 of said stud axle 88 and lockable in any desired set position thereon by the set screw I04. Said collar I08 is also provided with the axial hole I06 for receiving the axially projecting rear end 108 of the coil spring 10. It is thus obvious that with this construction the tension exerted by the spring 10 against the finger 58 can be increased or decreased by loosening the set screw I04 and rotating the collar I an to the desired adjusted position when it may be again locked by the set screw I04. It is apparent however that my improved tension finger 58 and cooperating spring means 10 may be constructed in any other suitable manner and mounted in any other suitable manner on the lay than in the specific manner just described.

It is apparent that I have provided a novel type of picker check functioning in a different manner and employing different principles than picker checks previously known, with the advantages explained above.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: I

l. A picker check, comprising a finger adapted to be mounted on the lay to pivot outwardly in the path of the picker exterior of the picker stick intermediate the picker rod and shuttle box normally tilting inwardly at a substantial angle towards the approaching picker, and spring means urging said finger inwardly and resisting the pivotal outward movement or said finger to permit said picker to strike said finger with a glancing blow and slide along the surface of said pivoting finger with a braking action moving said finger outwardly a substantial distance until the picker strikes the shuttle box buffer whereby the shuttle does not rebound in the shuttle box and whereby the only wear takes place on the outer edge of the picker and said finger to cause said shuttle to always stop in the same position always properly aligned for the successive replacement of bobbins from the magazine to within the shuttle and means to adjust the tension of said spring means against said finger.

2. A picker check, comprising a finger adapted to be mounted on the lay to pivot outwardly in the path of the picker exterior of the picker stick intermediate the picker rod and shuttle box normally tilting inwardly at a substantial angle towards the approaching picker, and spring means urging said finger inwardly and resisting the pivotal outward movement of said finger to permit said picker to strike said finger with a glancing blow and slide along the surface of said pivoting finger with a braking action moving said finger outwardly a substantial distance until the picker strikes the shuttle box buffer whereby the shuttle does not rebound in the shuttle box and, whereby the only wear takes place on the outer edge of the picker and said finger to cause said shuttle to always stop in the same position always properly aligned for the successive replacement of bobbins from the magazine to within the shuttle.

3. A picker check, comprising a finger constructed of fibrous material adapted to be mounted on the lay to pivot outwardly in the path of the picker exterior of the picker stick intermediate the picker rod and shuttle box normally tilting inwardly at a substantial angle towards the approaching picker, and spring means urging said finger inwardly and resisting the pivotal outward movement of said finger to permit said picker to strike said finger with a glancing blow and slide along the surface of said pivoting finger with a braking action moving said finger outwardly a substantial distance until the picker strikes the shuttle box buffer whereby the shuttle does not rebound in the shuttle box and, whereby the only wear takes place on the outer edge of the picker and said finger to cause said shuttle to always stop in the same position always properly aligned for the successive replacement of bobbins from the magazine to within the shuttle.

4. A picker check, comprising a finger constructed of resilient material adapted to be mounted on the lay to pivot outwardly in the path of the picker exterior of the picker stick intermediate the picker rod and shuttle box normally tilting inwardly at a substantial angle towards the approaching picker, and spring means urging said finger inwardly and resisting the pivotal outward movement of said finger to permit said picker to strike said finger with a glancing blow and slide along the surface of said pivoting finger with a braking action moving said finger outwardly a substantial distance until the picker strikes the shuttle box buffer whereby the shuttle does not rebound in the shuttle box and, whereby the only wear takes place on the outer edge of the picker and said finger to cause said shuttle to always stop in the same position always prop erly aligned for the successive replacement of bobbins from the magazine to within the shuttle.

ELPHEGE NADEAU. 

